CHANDIGARH – The ongoing investigation into a high-profile Rs 13 lakh bribery scandal involving the Punjab Vigilance Headquarters has reached a critical juncture. With the arrest and seven-day police remand of Inspector OP Rana, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now meticulously analysing digital evidence that officials believe could expose a deep-rooted nexus of corruption within the department.
Digital Forensics: The Smoking Gun
Inspector OP Rana, who served as a reader to senior Vigilance officials, was long considered a gatekeeper of the Bureau’s internal operations. Following his surrender to a special CBI court on June 1, 2026, and his subsequent remand, investigators have turned their attention to the wealth of information hidden within his mobile phone.
According to sources, the CBI is mapping every digital interaction Rana engaged in during his tenure. The investigation is focusing on three key areas:
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Communication Patterns: Identifying which senior officers were in frequent contact with Rana, the duration of these calls, and the frequency of messaging.
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The “Big Boss” Connection: Analysing encrypted messages that may link top-ranking Vigilance officials to the extortion scheme.
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Call Logs: Cross-referencing phone activity with the timeline of various bribery allegations and “settlements” handled by the bureau.
Breaking the “Reader” Protocol
The investigation has widened to include an administrative audit of how Rana managed to maintain his influential position. Despite mandatory transfer policies requiring staff rotation every three years, Rana remained posted as a reader for an extended period.
“The CBI is not just investigating the bribery; they are investigating the patronage,” stated a source close to the probe. Investigators are now scrutinizing the administrative orders that allowed Rana to bypass standard transfer protocols, aiming to identify the senior officials who facilitated his sustained placement.
Anatomy of the Sting
The case originated from a complaint filed by State Tax Officer Amit Kumar. The CBI orchestrated a high-stakes sting operation at a Chandigarh hotel, which served as the unofficial meeting point for the syndicate.
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The Trap: While the complainant met with middlemen to hand over the bribe money, the CBI swooped in.
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The Arrests: Ankit Wadhwa was caught red-handed at the hotel. Two other accomplices, Vikas Goyal and Raghav Goyal, were apprehended following a high-speed pursuit near Ambala.
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The Aftermath: Following the arrests, CBI teams executed a late-night raid on the Punjab Vigilance Headquarters in Mohali, seizing critical files and digital records that appear to show that the initial “disproportionate assets” case against the complainant may have been entirely fabricated to facilitate extortion.
Broader Implications
The revelations have sent shockwaves through the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. As the CBI continues to collect evidence, several senior officers have been brought under the scanner. The agency is now moving to determine whether Rana acted as an isolated operator or as a vital component of a larger, systemic extortion racket designed to compromise the integrity of the state’s anti-corruption watchdog.
The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected as the CBI decodes the digital evidence currently in its possession.
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